A report from Maracha

Segmentum Tempestus 999.M41
System: Fetian, Planet: Maracha

Two years.  Two damnable years we've spent trying to protect this near worthless rock.  Things were bad even from the start.  Chaos was a difficult opponent already.  Landings attempts by the Lankock XCI, CCXCIV, and DI Regiments suffered near-total casualties.  Cadian DXIX and Vatarian DLXXXIII secured the LZs, and pushed out against tremendous opposition.

We were sent down with a fellow Vatarian regiment: the CCXII.  Even to this day, I still don't understand why nine entire regiments of infantry were sent down to protect an entire planet with only a battalion of tanks, a company of artillery, and only eighty-three planes.

Somehow, we made serious progress in pushing back the enemy.  The locals, even though they were armed with bolt-action rifles, proved to be a great help in waging this war.  Despite only two of the nine regiments being mechanized, our efforts pushed the lines back over three hundred and thirteen kilometres in just a little less than a month.

Nobody expected the orks to show up to the fight.  Their transports managed to, somehow, evade the Imperial fleet in orbit and made unmolested landings behind the enemy lines.  Chaos formations swiftly fell into absolute chaos as the greenskins began their relentless assaults.  Those who could, threw themselves into our fire.  Our first engagements with them were fairly easy.  Their rushed to the villages we were holding, and we sprayed with tripod guns until they died.

Unfortunately, their leader was using those fights to learn about us.  Ork artillery batteries began their barrage on our positions.  Their ramshackle planes and vehicles started their around-the-clock attack on units caught in the open.

Major Carpenter led his Second Company in a daring raid which ended with the warboss' head as a trophy, the utter annihilation of their fuel and ammo depots, and several of the artillery guns that were causing problems.

Unfortunately, that would the last act 2nd Company did on the planet.  I had argued with Lord-General Von Sica against taking them to Arrakia, but lowly Knight-Commanders don't win arguments with Lord-Generals.  2nd Company departed with the four platoons of the newly formed composite Lankock DCI regiment and three-quarters of the fleet.

It turned out that the ork horde we faced was only a vanguard for the massive tide that crashed into us.  Despite the valiant efforts of the remaining ships, many roks made it past their blockade even before taking losses.  The battle for orbit went on for hours, but it ended with all ships lost.  True to my prediction, when the mass of bodies smashed into our defences, the hole created by the absence of 2nd Company was taken full advantage of.

Convoys of trukks loaded to bear with orks covered in armor (armed with their shootas) rushed through the gap, and only stopped long enough for their infantry to hop out, slaughter the defenders, and get back into their vehicles.  With that gap widened and secured, ork tanks made their breakthrough and swarmed the across the countryside.

We only managed to escape because we were mechanized.  Von Sica's command post was tore apart, and he had to retreat to 3rd Battalion's (of the Cadian DXIX) position.  These veteran troops were protecting a vital railway hub in the city of Shemu that connected to nearly all corners of the planet.  They were cut off from the rest of us by the vast ork air force.  The siege lasted for seven months; in the end, only thirty guardsmen and four-hundred seventy civilians made it out.  Lord-General Von Sica was killed two days before the escape attempt by a gretchin sniper.

As for us, the orks chased us all the way back our original landing zone.  There we made our stand with the Cadian's Command Company alongside their 4th, 2nd Battalion from the Vatarian CCXII, and twelve light tanks.  Even with the assistance of the aircraft launched by the vessels (before they were wrecked) and the timely arrival of the Vatarian DLXXXIII, the greenskins drove us back from our most heavily fortified garrison.

They chased us once more through the desert.  We had to use our APCs to guard the trains the others were using to evacuate their men.  Luckily we now had planes screaming overhead to protect our rout from the ork divebombers.  We couldn't halt the orks until we came under the shadow of the Maa-kheru Mountains.  There, I was able to coordinate an effective defence of the region from a position that my men and I have took to rename 'Charpelli Hill'.

A series of battles and sieges have occurred since then, but we haven't moved back much for all that time.  Of the planet, we retain control of only five towns: Kemet to the north, Kenbet just under Charpelli Hill, the fortress of Kadesh and the besieged metropolis of Kagemni to the east, and on the other side of the mountains lies Shemu.

Now, we only have twenty-five hundred guardsmen and less than two thousand support personnel left.  Out of the eighth of a million natives still alive, thirty thousand are assisting us in the fighting.  Shared between the five towns are thirty-three Devil Dog light tanks and twenty-one Leman Russ medium tanks, all without fuel and running out of ammo.  Thirteen Basilisk artillery guns cover the entire region from the cover the Maa-kheru Mountains.  Inside those mountains is the airfield that houses the last plane on Maracha.

This pilot has my recommendation for numerous awards for the service she has performed over the last year.  Nearly every day, she goes out in her lone Thunderbolt to defend everyone from the packs of ork bombers and fighters.  Her victories are helping to sustain the morale of the general populace and my men.  At the closing days of the year of our Emperor 999.M41, this pilot's count is an astounding 982 confirmed enemy kills.

If these records survive long enough for a loyalist in the Emperor's service to find them, I commend the bravery and resolve of everyone who has given their lives for the planet of Maracha.  May the Emperor watch over us all.

Signing out (hopefully, not for the last time),
Knight-Commander Zora of the Vatartian XII Regiment

Short Story, 2nd Company Deployment

(The following takes place between the first and second battle of Arrakia)
Segmentum Tempestus 997.M41

Fetian System, Planet Maracha




　

It was another quiet morning at the Vatarian XII's Field Command headquarters in the southern hemisphere of Maracha. Lord-General Von Sica sat in his command tent patiently awaiting the arrival of the Legion's six company commanders. He heard footsteps outside his tent as Knight Commander Zaros entered swiftly and snapped to attention. "Sir, Reporting as ordered." Von Sica motioned him to sit in a chair next to him. "Come now Zaros, no need for the formalities of rank today." The knight commander hesitated for a moment then sat down. "The other company commanders should be along shortly." Zaros took a breath before he spoke. "Sir, the other commanders are unavailable. As you only made planetfall yesterday, it seemed fitting to fill you in today after a night's rest." The General seemed to go still for a moment before uttering a simple "Continue." "Well sir, My own first Company is tied up retaking the Pass to the north. companies four, five, and six are in the hive of Del-Onigrav trying to secure a space port to bring down heavier firepower. Company three is trying to clear an Oasis due west of here from an ork Infestation. Early reports are saying it's like a miniature death world there." "What about second Company?" Zaros showed a small hint of uneasiness across his face. "Well sir, They are here but they just came off the line a few days ago. They were the spearhead for the invasion. Pretty badly beaten up and quite.. Irregular." "Irregular, Zaros?" He nodded. "Yes sir. Since making planetfall they have made alterations to their uniform, Began to carry non-issue equipment, Have become less engaged in the formalities of rank, an-" The general raised a hand to cut him off. "They have adapted to the war that is being fought here, Zaros. You may not understand having come from an Academy, But when a unit fights a war as vicious as the one here it begins to adapt in order to survive. Think Zaros. Between the unholy heat, the ork raids at day, chaos incursions at night, and daily shellings, They must do what they deem necessary to survive. Give me the company records." "Yes sir." Zaros handed him a datapad with the Legion Information on it.
Vatarian Armed Forces, 8th Battlegroup

XII Legion, 2nd Company 'Backbreakers'

Current Deployment: Marachan Crusade

Previous Actions: Damocles Gulf Crusade, Kieldar Rebellion, Daratar Offensive, Siege of Grotzka

Decorations: Honour Company (x8), Occupation Medallion (x2), Assault Commendation (x8), Multiple Unit Citations

Commanding Officer: Major Aelgafar Carpenter
"Zaros, what do you know about Major Carpenter." Zaros scratched his chin. "Only what I know sir. Former Royal Marine. Taught at the Airborne Academy after that. Over three dozen decorations, No record of ever having lost a position, No record of ever having a man being declared MIA either. Met him once. He's a bit.. off." The general nodded. "To be expected. I believe i've made my choice." "Choice, sir?" "As of 0047 this morning, the planet of Arrakia has come under major threat from the Forces of Chaos. The capital has been overrun, and the PDF, along with Astartes and Localized Regiments are fighting a guerilla war in the countryside. They have called for any and all available reinforcements. I intend to Oblige them." Zaros looked shocked. "Sir!? We are barely holding the line here, and you intend to send a company, An entire company off planet?! The VII Legion is already being beaten back by the heretics on this planet and you intend to weaken our forces even more?" General Von Sica stood and spoke loudly. "Do not think because I do away with formalities that you may disrespect me so! If Arrakia falls, as does our supply line! And if that falls there is no point in continuing this lovely little war of ours! If we can assist in defending Arrakia, they will be more than obliged to send us reinforcements and the aid we so desperately need." Zaros began to speak but the General cut him off. "I do not need to hear any more of your comments. Inform Carpenter he is to pull his men back to the Naval Lifters at once. They are off planet by sunset. Dismissed."

Blood Angels vs Vatarian Guard: Round 1 Part 5 (Finale)

Turn Five
It was crunch time. My ally moved up her terminators and tore the infantry squad with the objective apart. My vets used their meltas and fried the chimera that had delivered the enemy squad. I got into range to use my psyker's lightening arc against the assault marines and the one time I finally use it and it suffers a Perils of the Warp attack, Killing it outright. The Tora fired its Demolisher cannon and killed off the rest of the assault marines. My remaining chimera opens fire on a scout squad and kills one.

The poor squad that were torn apart by terminator Bolter fire

From his position, Knight-Commander Zaros could see the allied terminators moving up against the Blood Angel's guardsmen that had secured the disc. When they opened fire, the men around the disc disappeared into a red mist. On the left flank about thirty metres out, the chimera that had dropped the enemy off was illuminated briefly as it turned into a pile of molten metal. He scanned his perimeter and noticed a new shell crater with assault marines scattered around it. A hush fell over the battlefield as the Blood Angels began pulling back.

Luckily for me it was around 22:30 and my opponent had to leave. He submitted and we shook hands and agreed to have a rematch. It was a fun game, not too demanding and it kept me on my toes. The lesson I learned from this game is defiantly don't underestimate the cover saves an aegis defence line can give you. A would also like to thank my ally, without her it would've been a bad time with those hostile speeders.

Blood Angels vs Vatarian Guard: Round 1 Part 4

Giants clad in shining red armour decended upon first platoon in an instant. Spouts if flame covered most of first platoon. Men screamed as the assault marines fired their bolt pistols into the survivors. Zaros could only watch as his own squad was being cut down from the distant fire of assault cannons. A bright beam of light cut through the air and the only piece of armour in the company was struck on its hull plating. Luckily the beam lacked the power to penetrate the thick frontal armour of the leman russ. From less than a kilometre away, Zaros heard reports of an infiltrator wreaking havoc on the allied scout snipers.

Turn Three
With my remaining first platoon, I ordered a first rank fire, second rank fire into the squad of assault marines. The platoon managed to score two kills and the rest were armour saved. My ally was able to disable two of the three hostile land speeders, this was a very large relief as they had been giving my infantry a hard time most of the match. With the Tora I decided to rotate the turret and fire into the assault marines. Four of them were killed. With Sergeant Fontaine, his squad, and the remaining chimera I also opened fire on the assault marine squad. Unfortunatly none of them were taken out. The allied space marines were able to eliminate Marbo (after scaring the daylights out of my ally. She thought Marbo would destroy her terminators and her scouts) and managed to force a hostile sniper team to retreat off the board.

The one remaining speeder to the left. Centre is destroyed
One on the right exploded with a penning shot

 Turn Three - Hostiles

My opponent quickly choose to manoeuvre a chimera close and deploy infantry to secure the relic. With his assault marines, he multi-assaulted my Tora and the remaining first platoon. He immobilised my tank with a melts bomb, and cut down my infantry in close combat. (Go figure). Unfortunately, he was now in possession of the relic. This was very very bad for my team because we only had two turns to stop him and get it away from him. He decided to try and eliminate Fontaine and his squad, but thanks to my 3+ cover save, no one was hurt. 

Screams of men filled the air as chainswords swept through the entirety of first platoon. The Blood Angels had retaliated with lethal force. A bright explosion and terrific heat filled the air around the Tora. The tank commander checked all of his monitors and found that the right tread and sponson were completely melted to glowing slag. The tank was immobilised. Through his Vox, the commander heard reports of enemy infantry setting up a defensive perimeter around the mysterious floating disc that caused all this bloodshed.

Blood Angels vs Vatarian Guard: Round 1 Part 3

"Out of the machine men! Move!" First squad of second platoon rushed out of the rear access hatch of their chimera. The sergeant was rushing his men forward in an attempt to relieve Fontaine and his men. The sergeant looked to his rear after hearing a commanding voice. The voice was calling for the chimera to fire on his target, but it was too muffled by the sounds of war to get through to the APC commander. To his left, he heard a massive boom and saw a flume of flame and smoke. One of his troopers was heard screaming "The tank got a kill!" He squinted through the haze of the rising sun and saw a large plume of smoke rising from a hostile chimera.

Turn Two -Hostiles (AKA Hurt Time)
      My opponent was not very happy about the loss of one of his vehicles. He fired a las cannon at my Tank, scoring a glancing hit. Sniper fire from behind his lines cut my second platoon's forst squad to nothing, and then he proceeded to fire his land speeder's assault cannons at my command squad effectively eliminating all but my Primaris Psyker and my commander. If that wasn't enough, he deepstriked with his assault marines with a priest and a librarian. My first platoon got roasted by his flamers and bolt pistols, effectivly cutting down the entire unit to less than half it's twenty five man strength. He also deployed a Marbo Unit to my ally's scout/sniper position and threw a demolition charge. No scouts were harmed.

                                          

 

Blood Angels vs Vatarian Guard: Round 1 Part 2

      "Knight-commander Zaros, this is the Tora, we believe we may see something up ahead. Requesting orders, sir." Zaros motioned for his routine to halt at a small wall, and brought up his binoculars to scan the horizon. Against the rising sun, he observed slight movement amongst boxy shapes. "Tora, this is Zaros. Put a round into those shadows, see if there's any movement after that." There was no reply, only a large fireball that consumed the front of one of the boxes. With the illumination, Zaros saw men scattering around the explosion. Immediately he got on the Vox. "First company to arms! To arms! We have hostiles ahead!" There was various responses from commanders and sergeants as the company slowed to a halt. There was a brief silence followed by the chattering of second Platoon's heavy bolters being fired in the direction of the enemy. From far on the right flank, Zaros saw more bolters being fired at the area ahead. The allied Space Marine Chapter had caught on with what was happening.

Turn One -Hostiles

      The enemy player returned this fire with his own. His one leman russ fired a highly damaging battle cannon shot that knocked out one of my Chimeras. Well, I say knocked out. It got a pin and a six was rolled. The squad that climbed out only had six men remaining, including Sargeant Fontaine. 

Sergeant Fontaine and his Vets. We had no craters so we used Dragon's Teeth

      My opponents own snipers and chimeras began opening fire on the survivors, but luckily they had the forward sentries doctrine, plus barkers stealth, plus night fighting at long range. This gave them a 2+ cover save, so no one was harmed and my opponent had wasted his valuable shooting phase. 

"Get down!" There was a loud crack of a distant battle cannon as the chimera closest to the command squad enveloped in flames. Zaros feared that all was lost until he saw Sergeant Fontaine hefting the door to the troop compartment off it's hinges for the survivors to evacuate. As they escape the burning vehicle the flames ignited the fuel and ammunition compartment. Again he feared the veterans were lost but when the smoke cleared they were in the crater of the once-was chimera. Bolts were screaming over their heads as they kept low to the ground. Amazingly, no one was hit by the torrent of fire being put on their position.

                                                                         Turn Two

      I quickly seized the advantage of not having lost any more of my men by pushing forward more with my First platoon and the tank. The remaining squad of second platoon disembarked their chimera and began to push forward as I approached the hostile Aegis line from the left flank with my infantry/Armour combo. Once again noted that again I was in range with the Demolisher cannon and now the infantry heavy weapons had a clear line of fire on the fortifications. I opened fire.

First platoon moves toward the enemy

Blood Angels vs Vatarian Guard: Round 1 Part 1

Knight-Commander and his routine

      It was mid afternoon in one of the many oasis' on the desert world of Maracha. Knight-Commander Zaros was personally leading the Legion's 1st Company on a patrol to secure the flank against aggressors. The patrol came across a mysterious hover disc and chaos ensued as the blood angels arrived to contest the ground.

                                                                        The Game
      The game was a simple Capture the relic game. The relic, or "Mysterious Hover Disc" was an old poker chip I had in my back pocket at the time. It was a 1400 v 1400 point game, on team 1 was myself and my Space Marine Allies. On team 2 was Blood angels with Catachan allies. Deployment was quick and we took the initiative.

Turn One

      

 First platoon moved up on the left flank with the Tora. Second platoon (mounted) rolled up in Chimeras down the centre area. Down range, the enemy Aegis line was visible with the objective inches away. The upside to this deployment was that though they were closer to the objective, there was no way they could take it without exposing themselves to my firepower, and if they got past that, my allies' terminators and land speeder. It wasn't long after our advance that the front of the enemy's line was in range of my longer-range weaponry. Since it was night fighting, they would have 2+ saves at the range I was at. Caution was thrown to the wind and I let fire with my weaponry. As I did, my ally also decided to unleash her assault cannons, missiles, and sniper rifles. Total, we scored three kills against a well dug in enemy formation.

Vatarian XII: Meet Knight-Commander Zaros

Knight-Commander Zaros

     Knight-Commander Zaros is the the third Commander of the XII legion. He has been in the Imperial guard since he was 17 years old and served honourably in the infantry, and later on, the Vatarian Special Forces. He was awarded the Valoris Imperatora for his lengthy service throughout his life. He retired at the age of 50, as required by the Vatarian command for all frontline personnel, and was given a position at the Vatarian military Academy. He taught a majority of the officers who currently serve in the Vatarian Guard and is considered a highly professional leader and strategist. 

      Throughout his career, Zaros has earned many awards and medals for his lengthy service in the Vatarian Guard. He earned the Vatarian Ferro Cornu. The Steel Wing. This was earned for his unit's combat jump with the Cadian 76th Light Infantry against an Ork encroachment in a nearby system. He has earned numerous citations for Bravery and courage in combat. He has four Aquilla Mundanis medals and even a Knight of Vatar medal. It is a medal that exlemprifies an officer for high standards and extreme service. No other man is suited to lead the Legion like him.

Maracha: A Brief History

      Maracha is a desert world that is spotted with various sizes of oasis'. The only city on the planet has completely fallen under chaos influence and the valuable promethium refineries that dot the surface have come under the control of various chaos cults. These cults have converted most of the population to the dark gods and killed all those who opposed them.

      The desert that covers the world is incredibly harsh, and the few bits of life that exist are incredibly vicious predators. Things like giant sand spiders, Burrowing worms, and Leark hawks constantly stalk anything that moves in hopes that they will get another meal. Luckily, these beasts are repelled by liquid water, and once a creature nears an oasis it may rest easy from the perils of the
desert.

History: Vatarian XII

      The XII Vatarian Legion is from a medium sized hive world called Vatar. Vatar is in a system only a few light years away from Cadia, so chaos is a major threat that is faced. (More so now thanks to the 13th Black Crusade) The Legion is under the command of Knight-Commander Zaros (equivalent of a colonel), who used to be an instructor at the Vatarian military academy until the call to arms came from the Planetary Governor. He is the third Knight-Commander of the Legion, and has trained most of his officers personally.
      The Legion's number one method of filling its ranks is drafting all Vatarian males by the solar age of 17. Officers are taken from Vatar's high class officials, and are often well connected with the local political families in the city in which they are recruited. The training for the legion is a one year period in which troopers familiarise themselves with the equipment of the guard. Las guns, las pistols, chainswords, grenades, and basic heavy weapon maintenance are part of the training, as well as close combat drills and assault training. Each trooper is expected to find a field in which he excels and perfect himself in it. This leads to professional unit organisation within each platoon and company. 
      The XII legion has fought in two major crusades since its formation. The Demovolan Crusade against the Orks on the death world of Demovola and the Thyros crusade rooting out chaos in the hives of Thyro. The Legion briefly fought against the blood angels on Vatar itself due to a confusion from segmentum command. This led to the first Knight-Commander, Relio, to be forcefully retired after being shot with a heavy Bolter round in the back. They are currently engaged in a Crusage against Chaos and Orks on the desert world of Maracha alongside the VII and III Vatarian Legions. They have entered the Marachan Crusade.

Finally Starting

      Well, here it is. My blog is finally moving forward. This will be a primarily Warhammer 40k blog, so it'll be full of images, battle reports, fluff, etc. I ask that whoever follows it In the future to be patient because I've got to figure all this stuff out.